Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Chester Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Households have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Chester, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Chester families is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).

Chester County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	2,796,352	282,182	1,447,260	663,450	112,270	7,204	31,146
2024	2,785,913	276,598	1,396,275	685,083	111,416	6,155	32,085
2023	2,698,411	278,621	1,389,291	717,601	111,540	6,964	44,558
2022	2,710,114	282,625	1,337,240	742,118	105,147	5,282	41,959
2021	2,677,533	267,454	1,287,322	760,867	109,832	4,867	46,436
2020	2,656,062	251,472	1,254,850	776,616	113,900	4,554	41,326
2019	2,634,591	235,490	1,222,377	792,365	117,969	4,241	36,216
2018	2,592,386	225,476	1,198,450	806,761	128,110	2,197	35,172
2017	2,598,275	222,650	1,158,937	790,353	127,198	2,225	35,586
2016	2,551,248	209,719	1,133,797	805,822	125,583	1,639	34,565
2015	2,549,385	200,754	1,103,995	837,082	141,835	2,117	38,034
2014	2,528,694	198,296	1,087,741	858,758	148,256	1,760	36,886
2013	2,516,052	195,799	1,086,074	870,064	148,597	1,408	33,941
2012	2,530,063	188,880	1,046,982	936,674	145,089	1,484	31,494
2011	2,516,883	178,387	1,019,764	973,749	137,625	1,545	28,259
2010	2,530,446	177,562	997,925	993,832	126,074	597	29,423

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Chester

Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Chester. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of families using oil dipped from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chester

Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 200,754 to 282,182, a 41% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Chester

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Chester. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Chester

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 7,204 homes in Chester are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes had active solar heating.

Chester County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Chester County homeowners purchased a total of 29 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Chester’s overall oil use fluctuates from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Chester was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Chester County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	29.3° F
2023 - 2024	34.8° F

Chester County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Chester homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 41 heating oil companies that serve Chester is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 131 “full-service” oil companies that serve Chester. Full service companies such as Atlas Oil Company or J. Halligan & Sons offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Chester cash heating oil companies serving Chester include Mauger & Company Inc and Reilly & Sons Inc.

Chester Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Chester: 41 companies .
Average Number of Chester Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 16182

Chester Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 houses in Chester heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Chester temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Chester residences depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.

6.1% of Chester County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Chester County Households	Chester County Heating Oil Households
10.7M	663,450

499 Chester Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Chester households last winter, the Chester community depends on its 499 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Chester, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Chester and the surrounding area.